Border Security and Drug Trafficking

The Department of Homeland Security says that, for 10 consecutive months through February, U.S. Border Patrol has not released any migrants apprehended at the border into the U.S. interior, citing what it calls an “enforcement‑first” approach and historically low illegal‑crossing numbers. According to a DHS press release summarized by Fox News, CBP recorded 26,963 encounters nationwide in February, down 22% from January and 88% below the monthly average during the Biden administration, with just 6,603 apprehensions at the southwest border—figures officials say are 92% below the past three‑decade monthly average and 97% below the December 2023 peak. Former DHS Secretary Kristi Noem and CBP Commissioner Rodney Scott are using the data to argue the border is now at its most secure point in modern history, framing the numbers as proof that closing off releases at the border can dramatically cut crossings. At the same time, CBP reports that narcotics seizures surged to more than 79,000 pounds in February, the highest since October 2021, with fentanyl seizures up 67% month‑over‑month and sharp increases in marijuana, methamphetamine and cocaine seizures, suggesting smuggling networks are still active even as migrant flows fall. The claims are already fueling partisan debate online over how DHS is counting “encounters” versus gotaways, whether zero‑release figures simply mean more rapid removals or offshore processing, and how much weight to give seizure totals as a proxy for the overall drug flow.